San Francisco 49ers: 10 Coaching Replacements for Mike Singletary

In just his third season as head coach, and only the second where he actually began the year as head coach, Mike Singletary has been fired.

Seems a bit harsh doesn't it?

I guess that's what happens when you can't beat teams like the St.Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks out for the division. 

Singletary will undoubtedly land on his feet somewhere as a defensive coordinator at the very least.

But the more pressing matter for 49ers fans is who will be their coach next year. Bringing in a defensive coach would allow to try and build on what they already, whereas an offensive one can give them a new edge.

 Here are ten options for them to consider.

Bill Cowher

Kevin Cox/Getty Images

DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 11: Former Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Bill Cowher attends the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Duke Blue Devils on February 11, 2009 at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin Cox/Gett

I know Bill Cowher has a wish list and what not, but money and good weather can sway anybody. 

The biggest issue in attaining Cowher might be that it looks like all three of his preferred jobs (Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins and New York Giants) will be available. 

In the due process of finding their next coach, at least one phone call must be made to Cowher to see if there is mutual interest.

Cowher is a defensive-minded coach who won a Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2005.

Brian Billick

Mike Stobe/Getty Images

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 18: Former head coach Brian Billick of the Baltimore Ravens attends the IRTS Gold Metal Award Gala September 18, 2008 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

What if the 49ers could pry Billick from his job as an NFL analyst for Fox?

As an offensive mind he could certainly take the team in a different direction than Singletary. 

In his nine seasons as Ravens head coach, he compiled an 80-64 record and won a Super Bowl.

Oh, and Billick was drafted by the 49ers, but they cut him before he ever played a down. I'm not sure if that works for or against them.

Jon Gruden

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 28: Coach Jon Gruden of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers directs play against the Oakland Raiders at Raymond James Stadium on December 28, 2008 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

I like football analysts, what can I say?

Gruden's name has been associated with several job openings this year, but none have turned out to be too serious.

But, the 49ers job is a lot more appealing than the University of Miami. 

Gruden has already coached just across the bay in Oakland and might consider returning for the 49ers job. He even spent a year as a quarterbacks coach with the 49ers in 1990 as his first NFL job.

He is another offensive-minded coach who could attempt to turn around their struggling offense. 

He's also another guy who has a Super Bowl victory on his resume. 

Norv Turner

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

CINCINNATI - DECEMBER 26: Norv Turner the Head Coach of the San Diego Chargers watches play during the Chargers 34-20 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals during the NFL game at Paul Brown Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons

The rumor mill will tell you that Norv Turner will be fired at season's end.

I'm not quite sure I believe that, but he can take solace in knowing he would be a front runner for the 49ers job. 

Turner was the offensive coordinator for the 49ers in 2006 in between coaching jobs with Oakland and San Diego.

In his first three seasons with San Diego, he led them to first place finishes, but has lacked results in the playoffs. 

Turner would definitely draw interest from the 49ers if he was made available. 

Dom Capers

NFL Photos/Getty Images

GREEN BAY, WI - 2009: Dom Capers of the Green Bay Packers poses for his 2009 NFL headshot at photo day in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by NFL Photos)

Time to think a little outside the box.

Capers is the defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, who have surprisingly had the league's second-best scoring defense in the NFL in 2010.

He has held two head coaching jobs in the NFL, but both were with expansion teams. 

In his first year at Green Bay in 2009, he took them from being ranked 21st in the NFL to second. 

Capers prefers to run a 3-4 defense, which is already implemented in San Francisco. The man keeps a 17-hour work day. Give him a call.

Jim Harbaugh

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 27: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Stanford Cardinal reacts after Delano Howell #26 of the Stanford Cardinal made an interception on a pass intended for Joe Halahuni #87 of the Oregon State Beavers at Stanford Stadium on November

Jim Harbaugh should be looking to cash in on his best coaching effort yet at Stanford, and the move would be relatively easy from Stanford to San Francisco. 

Harbaugh has turned both college teams he has coached into one loss teams within a few years. Not that he can work the same magic with the 49ers, but what is there to lose?

He is a former NFL player, and has worked in the NFL as a quarterbacks coach for the Raiders.

Oh, and his brother coaches the Ravens. Everything adds up to some good reasons to consider him.

Bo Pelini

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 04: Head coach Bo Pelini of the Nebraska Cornhuskers leads his team against the Oklahoma Sooners at Cowboys Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. The Sooners beat the Cornhuskers 23-20. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty

Is Bo Pelini looking to leave Nebraska? Probably not.

Is it worth a phone call to find out? Definitely.

He has turned around a Nebraska Cornhuskers defense that ranked near the bottom of college football when he came head coach in 2008.

If you follow college football, you know they are now near the top.

Pelini's name surfaced in rumors about the University of Miami head coaching job, though they were quickly denied.

It might be worth it to the 49ers to find out if he has any real interest in moving on just yet. 

Tom Coughlin

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

GREEN BAY, WI - DECEMBER 26: Coach Tom Coughlin of the New York Giants on the sidelines against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on December 26, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Tom Coughlin's struggles in the playoffs, and at the end of the last two seasons, will likely cost him his job.

But 49ers fans would kill just to know what it feels like to make the playoffs.

Coughlin is just four years removed from a Super Bowl victory over what may have been the best team in NFL history. 

In eight of his 15 seasons, his teams have made the playoffs. The man is a good coach who could work with Alex Smith to try and fix the 49ers offense. 

Tony Sparano

Marc Serota/Getty Images

MIAMI - DECEMBER 19: Coach Tony Sparano of the Miami Dolphins against the Buffalo Bills at Sun Life Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Miami, Florida. The Bills defeated the Dolphins 17-14. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

Tony Sparano looks likely to lose his job as coach of the Dolphins at the end of the year.

Sparano is an offensive line guru who helped take the Dolphins from being the league's worst team in 2007 to a playoff team in 2008.

However, for the second consecutive year he will finish with a losing record.

Sparano may need some more experience before being a head coach again, but it couldn't hurt to talk to him.

Urban Meyer

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 02: Head coach Urban Meyer of the Florida Gators against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 2, 2010 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

I hate Urban Meyer as much as the next guy, and I don't believe for a second that he is done coaching.

Give him a call, gauge his interest, go from there. 

Love him or hate him, the guy is good.